This losing tax-subsidized venture joins other past losers like the Obama-subsidized Volt that gets 40 miles per battery charge, or like the Obama-subsidized Tesla that turns into a “brick” when the battery completely discharges and then costs $40,000 to repair.

Musk has dealt with this particular critique of his company from conservatives before. In November, when the Tesla Model S was named Motor Trend's Car of the Year, Musk referenced Mitt Romney's description of the government investment in Tesla as a "loser," saying Romney "was right about the object of that statement, but not the subject."